Live Music Now Scotland: Silver Keys Clarinet Quartet
Paxton House 2nd Jun
The Silver Keys Clarinet Quartet was founded in 2018 when the players met at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The current members are Laura Hundert, Paweł Jaworski, Matas Ščerbauskas and Jennifer Moss who are playing this afternoon at Paxton House under the auspices of Live Music Now Scotland. They certainly know how to put on a good show! A sunny day has brought out a large audience who thoroughly enjoy the eclectic programme of classical, jazz and pop. Laura, Matas and Paveł play Bb clarinet, with Paveł sometimes switching to the Eb clarinet, while Jennifer plays the bass clarinet, which she hoists up to show us, noting that it gives her all the weight-lifting practice she needs.
It provides the lovely burbling underpinning to the melodic piece from Bizet’s Carmen, which begins the concert. Five very short ‘Romanian Folk Dances’ by Béla Bartók, ranging from the wistful to the energetic, follow, and already we see the wonderful rapport which the players have: like all the best chamber musicians they keep regular eye-contact with each other. ‘Misty,’ the 1954 jazz standard by Erroll Garner, slips down nicely, while a rapid piece by J S Bach illustrates how well the quartet operate at speed. Scots/American, Laura, takes the lead in the short witty introductions to each piece, but all four are relaxed communicators.
Clarinets make a distinctive sound within an orchestra and here, playing together, the quartet show off the range of the instrument’s sounds, whether harmonising or in counterpoint, or providing variations on a melodic theme. Perhaps the most distinctive opening for clarinet in the 20th century is in ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ Paveł nails it beautifully, as the other players join in with a version of the orchestration. We’re not allowed to wallow, as the music segues into Brahms ‘Hungarian Dance No 5’ and its sudden changes in pace. As children my sisters and I were given an old wind-up gramophone, with that ‘Hungarian Dance’ among the hefty 78s which came with it. We soon realised that exciting effects could be accomplished by letting the motor wind down on the slow bits and then rapidly turning the handle to produce a hilarious conclusion. The Silver Keys have had a similar idea. Young Will from the front row is co-opted as a conductor, and after Matas gives him a lesson in baton technique, he directs the quartet to play ever more slowly and then with breathtaking abandon. Much fun is had by all!
We’re introduced to some Argentinian ‘Oblivion’ courtesy of Piazzola, and after we vote for our favourite Beatle, we hum along to Lennon and McCartney’s ‘When I’m Sixty-Four,’ with, in some cases, a better recollection of the song than of that 64th birthday… Much applause and a poignant arrangement of ‘Loch Lomond’ sends us out into the continuing Sunday sunshine.
The Silver Keys unsurprisingly have a busy schedule – their next concert at The National Gallery of Scotland on Thursday 6th June is currently sold out - but check for returns. Musicians from Live Music Now Scotland feature in Music at Paxton, which this year runs from 19th to the 28th July. See their website for details
